Collapsible Carrying Strap

ABSTRACT

A handle/strap device is disclosed that is suitable for original or retrofit installation onto edge surfaces of portable devices such as notebook computers and portable DVD players and the like. The handle/strap is made up of a base plate to which a pair of complementary upper and lower channel shaped leaf elements are pivotally attached at respective ends thereof. A longitudinal cavity is created in between the folded channel shapes when the device is in the shape of a handle. However, the upper channel can be unlatched from the lower channel so as to release the extendable/adjustable strap contained therein.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application61/020,073, filed Jan. 14, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a strap to carry briefcase-like objectssuch as a notebook computer, covered writing pad, etc.

2. Background

The present invention is directed at improving upon existing ways ofcarrying briefcase-like objects, most notably notebook computers. Thegreat advantage of notebook computers is their convenient portability.However, there hasn't been a satisfactory device to carry notebookcomputers to this date, forcing people to make an extra purchase of ashoulder bag, or other much bulkier surround, with which to carry themaround. While a carrying handle such as those used for brief cases wouldbe convenient, and some notebook computer includes such single foldhandles, carrying a notebook computer by an extended handle is not astyle that goes well with the image of notebook computer. A shoulderstrap would be more acceptable style to carry notebook computersespecially for young people who seem to have many things to carry. But,having a permanent shoulder strap that is cumbersome when not in usealso destroys the neat and brief image of notebook computers, thereforerendering it undesirable. A retractable shoulder strap similar to themechanism used for tape rulers could be considered. However, this designwill take up much of the precious inner space of the notebook computerin the same way as a single fold handle.

The purpose of this invention is to provide method and apparatus tocarry notebook computers that is convenient to use and yet acceptable instyle. A further purpose of this invention is to provide such a devicewithout sacrificing the precious inner space of the computer, and at anaffordable manufacturing cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a collapsible shoulder strap thatattaches externally to a notebook computer shell and convenientlyfolds/unfolds against the shell.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a handleassembly is secured to the body of a notebook computer, on any one ofits front, rear, or side edge surfaces. The handle assembly comprises abase plate, a bottom leaf, a top leaf, a latch mechanism and a shoulderstrap that connects the open ends of the bottom leaf and the top leaf.The top leaf can be unlatched to allow the handle to unfold to form aloop to function as a carrying shoulder strap. The shoulder strap can beeasily folded back and latched to form a handle. As a simple handle, itcan be readily used for short and brief movements of the computer. For alonger distance carrying of the notebook computer, the handle can beeasily unfolded to be used as a shoulder strap.

The foregoing summary of the invention is only a brief introduction ofthe invention. In order to fully appreciate the objects of the inventionand the invention itself and also manifest other advantages and featuresof the invention, the following detailed description and claims shouldbe read with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings shownillustrate a preferred structural embodiment of the present invention.This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms andshould not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein;rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only andso that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully conveythe full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a notebook computer with ahandle/strap according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a notebook computer according to thepresent invention with its handle unfolded to form a shoulder strap.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the handle assembly according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a handle/strap that can be retrofitto an otherwise self-contained portable device such as a notebookcomputer, portable DVD player, enclosed writing notebook, etc.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numbers refer to theidentical or similar parts throughout the several views: A notebookcomputer equipped with a handle/strap in accordance with the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 1, and is designated generally by thereference number 10. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a handle assembly issecured to the body of the notebook computer 10 either on the front edgesurface or the rear edge surface by suitable means such as rivets orsecuring screws 12. Alternatively, the handle/strap could be secured toedge surfaces of the device as well and even placed within a shallowrecess along an edge of the device.

As shown in FIG. 4 as well as in FIG. 3, the handle assembly comprises abase plate 14, a generally upwardly directed channel-like bottom leaf16, a generally downwardly directed channel-like top leaf 18, a firstintermediate strap 20 and a second intermediate strap 22. A firstprotrusion 24 and a second protrusion 26 are integrally made on each endof the base plate 14 to accommodate mounting of hinging/pivotinghardware for the respective top and bottom leaf elements.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a circular bore 28 is made in the topportion of the first protrusion 24 along the length of the base plate 14to receive a compression spring 30 and a latch 32. The latch 32 isgenerally cylindrical in shape and has a generally rectangularprotrusion 34 integrally made along its length. One end of therectangular protrusion 34 has a slanted surface 36 whose function willbe described later. The latch 32 is made by similar manufacturingprocess and of similar material as bolts for door locks. The top end ofthe circular bore 28 has an open slot 38 along its length to receive therectangular protrusion 34 of the latch 32. After the compression spring30 and the latch 32 are inserted into the circular bore 28, a securingpin 40 is pressure-fit through openings 42 across the circular bore 28to keep the compression spring 30 and the latch 32 in their places. Thefirst protrusion 24 also has parallel side surfaces 44 to receive thetail ends 46 of parallel sidewalls 48 of the bottom leaf 16. A securingpin 50 is provided to rotatably mount the bottom leaf 16 on the firstprotrusion 24, and extends through the clearance bores in the tail ends46 and the body of the first protrusion 24.

The second protrusion 26 also has two parallel side surfaces 52 toreceive the tail ends 54 of parallel sidewalls 56 of the top leaf 18(FIG. 3). A securing pin 58 is provided to rotatably mount the top leaf18 on the second protrusion 26, and extends through the clearance boresin the tail ends 54 and the top portion of the second protrusion 26. Aplatform 60 is provided in the second protrusion 26 for the open end 62of the bottom leaf 16 to rest on when the shoulder strap is folded toform a handle (FIG. 3).

The first intermediate strap 20 and the second intermediate strap 22 aresecured to the bottom leaf 16 and the top leaf 18 respectively bysuitable means such as rivets 64. A length adjustment clip 66 isprovided at the end of the second strap 22 in this preferred embodimentof the present invention although it could be on the first strap 20instead. The open end of the second strap 22 goes through a rectangularclearance bore 68 and comes out of another rectangular clearance bore70. The open end of the second strap 22 is then sewed to the body of thesecond strap 22. The open end of the first strap 16 tightly goes throughthe rectangular clearance bore 68 and again tightly comes out of theother clearance bore 70. As it is well known, the length adjustment clip66 serves to maintain and adjust the total length of the shoulder strapto the individual user's body structure. Semi stiff strips 72 aresecured to the first strap 20 and the second strap 22 by suitable meanssuch as rivets or glue. The semi stiff strips 72 serves the first andsecond straps 20 and 22 so as to be easily and readily folded at theright places when needed.

To fold the handle assembly to form a handle, the lower leaf 16 isrotated toward the second protrusion 26 until its open end 62 rests onthe platform 60 of the second protrusion 26. Approximately the firsthalf of the first intermediate strap 20 with its semi stiff strip 72 isthen folded into the bottom leaf 16 upwardly directed channel betweenits opposed side walls 48. The approximately second half of the firstintermediate strap 20 will be folded onto its first half. Likewise, thesecond strap 22 with its semi stiff strip 72 will be folded onto thesecond half of the first strap 20. Afterwards, the top leaf 18 will berotated toward the first protrusion 24 until its open end 74 comes incontact with the slanted surface 36 of the latch 32. Further rotation ofthe top leaf 18 will force the slanted surface 36 of the latch 32 toretreat against the compression spring 30. After the open end 74 clearsthe slanted surface 36 and rests on the flat top surface of the firstprotrusion 24, the latch 32 comes back over the open end 74 of the topleaf 18 by the resilience of the compression spring 30 to keep the topleaf 18 from moving upwards (FIG. 3). The bottom corner ends 76 of thetail ends 54 of the top leaf 18 comes in contact with the top surface ofthe open end 62 of the bottom leaf 16 to keep it from moving upwards. Itshould be noted that there are more than one way of folding a givenshoulder strap into the longitudinal cavity created between thecomplementary channel shapes of the respective top and bottom leafelements.

When it is desired to unfold the handle assembly for long carrying ofthe notebook computer, the rectangular protrusion 34 of the latch 32 ispushed manually against the compression spring 30 to clear the open end74 of the top leaf to allow the first strap, the second strap and thebottom leaf to readily and rapidly unfold.

The handle/strap herein described could also be shaped to form an edgeextension of an underlying portable device. The respective protrusionscould be styled as continuations of the overall style and shape of theso equipped portable device with the upper channel or top leaf appearingas the actual edge of the device. However, upon release of the latch 32,the top leaf 18 would pivot outwardly and the contained folded strapwould be revealed. In addition to the foregoing, the strap may take manyforms including somewhat elastic versions, foamed rubber shoulderelements, Velcro length adjustment, etc. I.e., all of the characteristicknowledge and applicable features of conventional straps could likewisebe incorporated.

The present invention is not limited to the particular features or tothe details of the preferred embodiment specified in the foregoing. Itis therefore understood that upon reading and understanding thespecifications and claims of this invention, those skilled in the artcan make numerous modifications, omissions, changes, and substitutionsin the preferred embodiment, in the forms and details of the instrument,and in its operation, as long as they fall within the scope of presentinvention.

1. A handle assembly for carrying portable objects, comprising: a firstprotrusion secured to a first surface of said object; a secondprotrusion secured to said first surface at a spaced distance from saidfirst protrusion; a bottom leaf, one end of said bottom leaf mounted tosaid first protrusion so as to rotate toward said second protrusion to ahandle forming position spanning said spaced distance so to form a lowerportion of a handle to enable carrying of said portable object, saidbottom leaf, when lifted from said second protrusion, being able torotate in an opposite direction to form a 1^(st) element of a shoulderstrap; a top leaf, one end of which is mounted to said second protrusionso to rotate toward said first protrusion to a handle forming positionand latching securely to said first protrusion so as to form an upperportion of said handle, and creating a longitudinal cavity between saidtop and bottom leafs, and to rotate in an opposite direction to form a2^(nd) element of said shoulder strap; flexible strap means for carryingsaid portable object, said flexible strap means connecting betweenrespective free ends of said bottom leaf and said top leaf so as to befolded into said cavity between said bottom leaf and said top leaf whenconfigured in said handle forming position.
 3. A handle assembly as inclaim 1, wherein: said strap means is separated into two pieces that areconnected by a length adjustment means for adjusting an overlappingcondition between separate elements of said strap means.
 4. A handleassembly as in claim 1, wherein: said first surface of said object isrecessed within an edge of said object.
 5. A handle assembly as in claim1, wherein: said first and second protrusions are each formed onrespective ends of a longitudinal base plate that is, itself, attachedto said first surface of said object.
 6. A handle assembly as in claim1, wherein: said strap means includes a plurality of semi stiff panelsto guide a folding sequence of said strap means into said cavity forcontainment of said strap means when said leafs are configured in ahandle position.